1. In your experience, when have you felt successful directly teaching ABOUT New Church concepts?

1. Worship; 2. Nature, science; 3. Personal Relationships (i.e. getting along); 4. Patriotism
When the doctrines & concepts underpinned what I was teaching in such a way that they provided "hooks" for the students on which to hang their knowledges. The doctrines provide the framework - you build your course on this framework. The doctrine organizes the course for you.
Correspondences; New Church view of overpopulation
Lord's Infinite Wisdom; Infinity/boundaries; Internal Sense/Connection/Connectivity
Worship; Discipline
When children change their behavior because of teachings and when they share what they have learned with family & friends

2. How might the school system help you build on these strengths?

Faculty studies; inter-New Church Schools discussion of what & how
The relationship of the religion curriculum and the other curricula is very important - i.e. science tells us HOW - religion tells us WHY makes for a strong cross-pollination between these classes & the students love this - seeing the same concepts from different standpoins, evoked by different teachers.
Introductory course for students with no prior knowledge of New Church doctrines ("Rookie Religion"); MARS courses - pay for these for teachers; Workshops/Inservices for teachers on these techniques
Encourage reading of the Word
Conversing in staff room; working ont he level of: children, teaching families
More opportunities for out-of-classroom

When the conepts are NOT backed by the home, (i.e. language, Conjugial Love, basic polite behavior [please, thank you], reverence during worship and for worship/religious things
Variety of background leves in students; also the variety in the level of acceptance
Appearing forced or grasped
Simplifying message; can't force reception of ideas (reading mm); parental involvement
How to assess the life of religion

More collegial work. I LOVE working with others ni the development of curriculum. No Time!!!
Mentor young/new teachers on how to do this; knowing what's available
Collegial sharing of ideas
providing ongoing teacher education/dialogue; visits from Office of Ed/Senior Teachers
Come up with a skills-based religion curriculum